ISTANBUL (AA) – Academician and writer Prof. at the “Wednesday Conversations” organized by Mavera Education and Health Foundation. Dr. Ahmet Özel gave a talk titled “Encyclopedia of Islam: The Story of 33 Years” at the foundation’s headquarters in Üsküdar. Özel, who served as a manager at the General Directorate of the Islamic Encyclopedia of the Turkish Religious Foundation (TDV) for many years and contributed to 255 articles within the encyclopedia, said that the project consisting of 46 volumes is a first in its field.
Özel stated that he worked for many years within the Islamic Research Center (ISAM) and that this process was a result of his own life story, and said, “I was born in the Tanrıverdi village of Ağrı. Our village was a place of 8-10 households. My father was a tradesman. We moved to the center of Ağrı when I was in primary school. Later, I took a Quran course and started to be called ‘hodja’ at home. In those years, an imam-hatip school was opened in Erzurum.
The closest imam-hatip school to us was That was it. With my father’s approval, my brother applied for this exam on my behalf and I passed the exam. I took lessons from very valuable teachers like Raşit Küçük and this education was very important for me. he said. Stating that Atatürk University Faculty of Islamic Sciences was established in 1976, Özel said, “I started my university education here. I graduated from the faculty quite successfully.
With the encouragement of my professors, I did academic studies here. I passed the doctorate and assistantship exams. However, I could not fulfill this duty because my assistantship duties were prevented under the conditions of that time. During that period, we moved to Antalya and I started working at the Antalya Mufti’s Office. I took leave to complete my doctorate here.” “I bought it and went to Istanbul.” he said.
– “The first ideas about the Islamic encyclopedia are a work decided by orientalists in 1892.” Özel stated that he continued his work in Istanbul with the support of Salih Tuğ and continued: “After my doctorate, preparations for the Islamic Encyclopedia started in Istanbul. I also took part in this project for many years. The first ideas about the Islamic encyclopedia are a work decided by orientalists in 1892. Of course, their basis here is Their aim was to prepare this encyclopedia as a part of Western colonialism.
They did this to explain the countries they exploited to their own people. The first fascicle of this idea appears in 1908. A total of 5 volumes were published until 1938, and they published approximately 1200 articles here.” Pointing out that this encyclopedia started to be translated into Turkish since 1940, Ahmet Özel said, “In this process that started in 1987, approximately two-thirds of the 5-volume work was translated.
Moreover, this is a translation made within the framework of a Western mentality. During these years, translation activities in Turkey began to accelerate. Many encyclopedias were translated into Turkish in these years. The idea of the Islamic Encyclopedia is also a work that emerged in these years.” he said. Özel said that there were great difficulties in the publication process of the encyclopedia and said: “Tayyar Altıkulaç has made great efforts at this point.
In 1983, the General Directorate of the Encyclopedia of Islam was established in Bağlarbaşı and I started working in 1985. Before me, it was decided to write approximately 45 thousand articles. A committee, including me, was established and we reviewed these articles. Then we started placing orders for the writing of these articles. After a short time, I became the deputy general director of the encyclopedia.” – “In the Islamic world, this encyclopedia has only been achieved in Turkey.” Stating that he had a very intense work process within the encyclopedia, Özel said, “We have left behind a really difficult process.
We worked like a factory for 30 years. Tayyar Altıkulaç said at a recent event, “The number 1 name in the creation of this encyclopedia is Ahmet Özel.” We know that these kinds of things happen with the help of a few people. I was blessed with this beautiful job. “During this process, I had to move away from my home field, but I did not break away completely and continued my work.” he said. Özel added that working on the encyclopedia was a productive process for him and made the following evaluations: “This long and challenging task was an important experience for me.
I worked here for nearly 30 years. The experience I gained from the encyclopedia showed itself in the works I produced later. Finally, I prepared a beautiful sirah. There have been jobs in the past that I wanted to go to and was sad because they didn’t happen. I thank God Almighty for putting me in charge of this job. When I look back, I say I’m glad these things didn’t happen. In the Islamic world, this encyclopedia was achieved only in Turkey.
This is an indication of how important and valuable work has been done. The next generation after us will build on this experience and produce more beautiful works.” – About the “TDV Islamic Encyclopedia” The “Islamic Encyclopedia” prepared by the Turkish Religious Foundation stands out as the first original copyrighted encyclopedia work prepared and completed by Muslims. The work, which offers a wide range of information about Islamic religion, history, civilization and Islamic societies, is also a reliable reference source for research in Islamic sciences, humanities and social sciences.
The first volume of the work, whose work was carried out by the General Directorate of the Islamic Encyclopedia established in 1983, was published in 1988. The encyclopedia was completed with the publication of the 44th volume in 2013 and two additional volumes in 2016.
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